"Mr. Wu, hello. It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm a reporter from Fox Sports Channel."
Tang Long chimed in from the side, "I don't think it has to be limited to the sports channel. Perhaps it will be moved to primetime soon."
"I'm not as amazing as you say."
Xiao Gen's face turned red again.
She felt she had made great progress in controlling situations during this period, but in front of Tang Long, she still seemed to get shy easily.
"Mr. Wu is truly young and promising. I heard your company is already among the top 500 enterprises in Asia," Xiao Gen praised. "Industrialists are the backbone of society."
"You flatter me."
Wu Rongzhao replied politely, but he was quite grateful to Xiao Gen.
Her words were actually quite beneficial to him. Starting the conversation at such a high level made it easier to persuade Tang Long to endorse their brand.
Wu Rongzhao decided to strike while the iron was hot and spoke directly, "I know Mr. Tang isn't short of endorsements, and I've heard that Adidas is also considering signing you. However, from our previous conversations, I know Mr. Tang recognizes our brand. So, I still want to try. Would Mr. Tang be willing to endorse our Hongxing Erke?"
"Mr. Wu, I'd like to ask you a question. Since you studied abroad, why is the design..."
Tang Long didn't finish his sentence, but Wu Rongzhao clearly understood his implication.
Hongxing Erke's quality was beyond reproach, but there was still a gap in design aesthetics compared to major brands.
If he were a local boss, it would be understandable. But Wu Rongzhao had studied abroad and couldn't be unaware that these major international companies not only employed biomechanical engineers but also aesthetic designers. Their designs had to be both comfortable and aesthetically pleasing.
"It's not that I haven't thought about it, but it would increase costs. If everyone were targeting the high-end market, it would be too difficult for ordinary people to afford a pair of shoes with a month's hard work. Besides, there's still a gap in living standards between Asian countries and developed countries."
Tang Long nodded, gaining some understanding.
Who could have imagined China's rapid development, resulting in countless wealthy individuals within a decade?
As everyone became richer, the products hadn't kept pace. Coupled with the financial power of foreign companies, they quickly captured the market.
Later, when these foreign companies overstepped their bounds, Hongxing Erke truly experienced a period of resurgence, re-emerging into the public eye and even experiencing times when shoes were hard to come by.
"Of course, I also know that Mr. Tang signing with Adidas would be more beneficial for his future NBA development. However, I believe that although we don't have the same promotional power as these major brands yet, we possess unlimited potential."
"It's not a big deal if I don't sign with them."
Tang Long knew his fame within the league was sufficient. Moreover, the Chinese market behind him wasn't just about shoes, so not signing with Adidas wouldn't have any impact on him.
Then, Tang Long dropped another bombshell: "I can endorse Hongxing Erke."
Tang Long's words made Wu Rongzhao's eyes light up, but Tang Long immediately added, "But I have one condition."
"Mr. Tang, please state it. As long as I can fulfill it, I will not refuse."
Wu Rongzhao's expression was one of heroic resolve.
It was clear that to sign Tang Long, Old Wu was prepared to go all out.
"Mr. Wu, it's not that complicated. You can have my endorsement, but my shoes need to be custom-designed, requiring the most top-tier engineers and designers."
"Of course, that's absolutely no problem."
Wu Rongzhao agreed without hesitation.
The primary purpose of signing Tang Long was to help Hongxing Erke expand beyond Asia and reach the global market. This required a top-tier team. Even if Tang Long hadn't made this request, he would have planned to do so.
But Tang Long's request made Wu Rongzhao even happier.
It indicated that Tang Long took this seriously and wasn't agreeing casually.
"Alright, for the specific contract details, please discuss them with my agent. I'm aware of the situation in China and will speak with Bill to ensure he proceeds based on practical considerations."
"Mr. Tang, thank you so much."
Old Wu reached out his hand, visibly excited.
Tang Long's commitment undoubtedly gave him complete peace of mind.
"I also wish to see Chinese brands go global."
Whether a brand can last and succeed internationally depends not only on quality but more importantly on the team and business model.
The reason most domestic brands fail to go global is precisely not due to quality issues.
"Miss Xiao, how will Fox Sports be running the advertisements?" Wu Rongzhao turned to Xiao Gen. "I'd like to place some advertisements on Fox first. I'll need your assistance, Miss Xiao."
"Advertisements?"
"Yes."
Wu Rongzhao nodded. He was very grateful to Xiao Gen. If it weren't for her prior groundwork, today's signing might not have gone so smoothly.
Returning the favor was only natural.
Besides, if they signed Tang Long and entered the US market, some preliminary brand awareness would be necessary.
Xiao Gen gave Tang Long a meaningful look and nodded.
After the preliminary intentions were communicated, Tang Long handed over the specific signing matters to Bill Duffy and focused on training and playing games.
After losing to the Grizzlies, the Lakers recognized Pau Gasol's ability in the paint and brought him to Los Angeles, but they traded his brother, Marc Gasol, to the Grizzlies.
With Gasol on board, the Lakers became even more formidable, facing no real opposition in the Western Conference.
Compared to the Western Conference, the Eastern Conference competition this year was exceptionally fierce, aside from the Celtics, who were far ahead.
The Pistons and Magic were also strong contenders, relentlessly chasing the Cavaliers, while the Wizards and Raptors also displayed impressive prowess. The competition in the East was particularly intense.
Before the All-Star Game, the Cavaliers secured another winning streak. Tang Long, with 10 million votes, became the leading vote-getter for the year and was selected as the starting center for the Eastern Conference All-Stars!
Following Tang Long in votes was Kobe Bryant. It was unexpected that Chris Paul ultimately surpassed Kevin Garnett, ranking third in overall votes.
LeBron James, the star player for the Cavaliers, ranked behind Garnett.
The Eastern Conference starting lineup was finalized: Garnett, Tang Long, Dwyane Wade, LeBron James, and Jason Kidd. Dwight Howard could only be a reserve center.
Speaking of Howard, one must mention his restless spirit, as he played a few games in Taiwan's T1 League.
In his debut, Howard showcased a beautiful three-pointer, and the "Howard fans" once again dominated the screens.
However, the Cloud Leopards team then suffered a five-game losing streak, and the T1 League only had five teams in total.
Howard, a center, attempted six three-pointers in the T1 League, making only one out of six. The fans immediately erupted in criticism!